Sports

Week 1 NFL odds, betting trends

Bennett Bedford introduces RotoQL's latest product, BetQL, and breaks down how it can help with your football bets. Find out the latest Week 1 NFL odds and betting trends for some of this week's most interesting matchups for gamblers.

Written ByBennett Bedford

For the 2018 NFL season, the team at RotoQL has been hard at work on BetQL, a new sports betting product that will help you make more informed decisions and find the top trending bets. Each week, I’ll be breaking down the top-five NFL odds and gambling trends from BetQL and hopefully helping you make some money with more informed picks along the way.

I absolutely love betting during the first few week of the season, as we can find some excellent value betting for or against teams that the public is too high (or low) on, such as the Browns, Raiders, and Bills. Kicking things off we have a rematch of an NFC Divisional Round tilt between the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles and 2017's Super Bowl runner-up Falcons. There is a huge edge to be had in this game following the news that Eagles QB Carson Wentz will be out as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury. BetQL has also identified Hard Knocks darlings, the Browns, as a team to fade the public against in their Week 1 matchup matchup with the Steelers. This week, I dive into those matchups and more!

There's plenty of strategy that goes into putting together a winning ticket, and the best place to start is the BetQL Mobile App. Our Trending Picks and Public Betting tools offer a massive advantage when you're making bets, regardless of bankroll size. I'm always there to help, too, so check me out on Twitter (@DFSBenj) for even more NFL, NBA, MLB and PGA daily fantasy and sports betting content.

Week 1 NFL odds, betting trends

*All Screenshots are from the BetQL Trending Value Bets Page

Philadelphia Eagles (-1.5) vs Atlanta Falcons

The Eagles opened this game as four-point favorites, but we’ve seen this line plummet down to -1.5 since the news broke that QB Carson Wentz and WR Alshon Jeffery will not be available for the game. The public is also all over the Falcons in this one with 65 percent of public money heading the Falcons way. However, this is a perfect time to fade the public. This is an Eagles team that won the Super Bowl last season with Nick Foles at the helm, and they open up their title defense in Philadelphia where they were 7-3 against the spread last season. BetQL lists the Eagles as the highest value bet of the week against the spread at -1.5 home favorites.

Yes, Le’veon Bell will likely miss this game with his contract situation still unsettled. Yes, the Browns should be improved this season after seeing over 50 percent of their roster turn over from last season. However, there is still no way that the Steelers should only be favored by four points against a team that has won only one game over the past two seasons. This line opened at -7 but dropped all the way to -3.5 earlier this week before settling on -4 in favor of Pittsburgh. The casual public is hammering the Browns in this matchup, but sharp bettors are helping to keep the line strong at -4. The Browns are clearing getting the Hard Knocks bump in betting markets, but don’t fall into that trap. Bet the Steelers with confidence in this matchup.

Baltimore Ravens (-7.5) vs Buffalo Bills

It’s Nathan Peterman time in Buffalo, and the betting public has responded in turn by absolutely hammering the Ravens in their Week 1 matchup with the Bills. Not only has this line dropped from -3 to -7.5 in favor of the Ravens, but they are also one of the most popular bets of the entire week, seeing just over 80 percent of public bets heading their way against the spread. The Ravens are also the third-largest moneyline favorites of the week at -340, trailing only the Saints and the Packers in that department. It’s hard to trust a Joe Flacco-led offense who are favored by more than a touchdown, but this is a Bills team that is going to be a real contender for the No. 1 overall pick. Buffalo should struggle to move the ball against a Ravens defense that projects to be a top-10 unit.

Cincinnati Bengals (+2.5) vs. Indianapolis Colts

The popular road underdog of the week belongs to the Bengals in their matchup with the Colts and the returning Andrew Luck. The Bengals have seen a staggering 84 percent of public money come in on them, and it’s hard to make a case against Cincy, as the Colts will be throwing out one of the worst defensive secondaries in the entire league. A.J. Green and speedster John Ross will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing Colts cornerbacks Pierre Desir, Kenny Moore, and Quincy Wilson, none of which are starting-caliber players. It’s also clear from the preseason that Luck is going to need some time to get back to 100 percent and will likely be a popular target to bet against early in the season. Fading such a massive public favorite is usually the play here, but it’s hard to see the overmatched Colts covering the 2.5-point spread, even at home. .

Los Angeles Rams (-4) vs. Oakland Raiders

Betting against the Raiders is going to be a lot of fun this season, and we have an excellent spot to pick on them right out of the gate as they come in a four-point home underdogs to the Rams. The Raiders defense projects to be one of the worst units in the league following the loss Khalil Mack, and the Rams offense only got more dangerous this offseason following the addition deep threat Brandin Cooks. The Raiders saw a lot of early money come in early following the hire of John Gruden, but those sentiments have cooled with 63 percent of the public currently backing the Rams.